Chapter 5- Is This Goodbye?
Elli had followed Jay to his farm. The least she could do was help him. "It shouldn't have to end this way." Elli muttered angrily. Doc was the trouble, and it was Doc who should have to run away.
"Isn't there any way to get out of it?" Elli asked aloud, voicing her thoughts. Jay shrugged.
"Nothing I haven't already thought out. There must be another way. What if we pretended that I really had a knife, and I was after you?"
Elli shook her head. "Doc knows you wouldn't hurt me, especially after our display on the beach. He also knows that the knife scared you."
"What if we paid him some money to keep his mind off of you until we can escape?" Jay suggested.
"Well, I doubt he'll be persuaded by some money. He's ready to murder you, and money won't change his mind." Elli frowned.
"I can't think of anything. Wait. What if we somehow snuck you onto the boat, and told Doc you were off to buy him a special something." Jay pondered.
"Like a Blue Feather!" Elli exclaimed. "We're onto something. I wish we could just buy Doc a one way to ticket to some foreign country!"
"Hah. That would be too simple. True love is never simple."
"True love is never simple." Elli repeated somberly.
She froze on the spot, dropping Jay's hoe, as he opened his backpack, flipping through it.
"Oh my goddess." Was all he could say.
"What? What!"
"True love! Blue Feathers! The answer's been right in front of us the entire time."
"It has?" Elli asked.
"If we could forgo the rules, buy a Blue Feather, and get married before the hour is out, my grandma's placement of me under Doc's care would end, and I would be free. He can't argue with the law." Jay yelled, grasping Elli's shoulders.
"Yes, but since he's my caretaker, wouldn't he have an objection to your marrying me?" Elli questioned reasonably.
"Forget the rules! We'll be wed today." Jay said. "Unless, or course, you aren't ready for this. There's no turning back after I set foot on that ship."
Elli nodded affirmatively. "I've never be more ready." Jay smiled at her fondly.
"Well, this needs more formality. To the Supermarket!" Jay exclaimed, dragging Elli there.
"A Blue Feather?" Jeff asked, blinkingly.
"Yes." Jay repeated.
"Well, we don't have any." Jeff said, still confused. Elli was outside, on the bench outside the Supermarket with Karen. Although the two girls had never been friends, Karen was eager to have a shot at the Doc, since it was obvious how much she liked him. She would do anything. Currently, Karen was putting her acting skills to the test, pretending to comfort a fake crying Elli.
"It's okay." She said warmly. "Don't worry."
"Please," Jay begged at Jeff. "I'm willing to pay an extra thousand G." Jeff's eyes lit up suddenly, and he pulled out a Blue Feather from under his cashier desk.
"Well, I suppose we have one fro sale. Your total is two thousand G." Jeff said, outstretching his hand.
Jay plunked the coins in, running outside to Elli, and whisking her back to the farmhouse.
"Are you sure we can convince Carter to let us do this?" Elli asked Jay nervously.
"We can hope. If he knows what Doc has been up to, then he may not have a problem. But we only have a half hour." Jay explained quickly.
"Let me sneak to my grandma's and explain." Elli said.
"Wait." Jay said strongly. Elli blinked.
"What?"
"You can't go."
"Well why not?"
"If Doc sees you going to your grandma's, he'll trail you until he figures out what's going on. Don't you see? Getting to the Church will be hard enough without the insane guy hanging around." Jay explained. Elli appeared to be in deep thought.
"I see what you mean. This isn't looking good. Give me a minute." Elli waved her hand impatiently.
"We don't have a minute. As much as I wish we could have a proper plan, we'll have to do this on the spur of the moment. Every minute we waste is another minute we lose. Elli, are you even listening?" Jay asked his girlfriend.
"No. But I've got it." Elli smiled grandly. "If we bring your suitcases to the Church, quickly explain to Carter, and if we see Doc, tell him we're saying prayers for your safe trip, he'd be too disgusted to follow us." Elli's plan seemed flawless.
"One problem." Jay groaned. "What if he isn't too disgusted?"
"Forget it. Do have a better plan?" Jay shook his head. "Then we'll have to stick with mine. It has its flaws, but it's the best we've got to offer." Elli headed to the door, and Jay followed, quietly.
"Lets pick herbs first for lunch. Can't have you starving." Jay grinned. So Elli allowed Jay to lead her to the mountains to pick some herbs.
"Hurry up." She said anxiously, looking around nervously. "Doc'll come looking for us soon."
"There's something I must ask you first." Elli first noticed the trees around her with the Fall leaves- reds, oranges, and vibrant yellows.
"It's very important," Jay continued. He looked Elli in the eyes, and she was astounded by how full of emotion the brown eyes were.
"And I've been wanting to ask for so long." Elli became aware of the slight breeze, rustling her hair, and the leaves falling droopily from the trees.
"Will you marry me?" Jay was down on one knee, and Elli felt tears of joy brim in her eyes as Jay stood up again.
"Yes; yes I will." She ran to Jay and grabbed him in a bear hug, and he promptly laughed.
A/N: Awww… Isn't that sweet?